Buckler's Hard Maritime Museum Celebrates 50 Years

BEAULIEU, UNITED KINGDOM – Marc 28, 2013: On the 6th April, 1963,
Admiral of the Fleet, Earl Mountbatten of Burma sailed up the Beaulieu
River with Lord and Lady Montagu to perform the opening ceremony of the
newly created Buckler’s Hard Maritime Museum. On the 50th anniversary
of that opening, Earl Mountbatten’s great-nephew, Lord Ivar
Mountbatten performed a re-dedication of the museum.

Lord Mountbatten echoed the words of his great uncle from the 1963
opening who on that occasion had said: “Buckler’s Hard is
famous the world over as a hamlet, unchanged since the 18th century, that
has made an invaluable contribution to the history of our country in its
production of over 50 warships for the British Navy, three of which took
part in the Battle of Trafalgar including Admiral Lord Nelson’s
favourite, Agamemnon.”

Mary Montagu-Scott, who has project managed the recent refurbishment of
the Maritime Museum, presented Lord Mountbatten with a limited edition
David Bell print of Agamemnon.

Over 200 local accommodation providers attended the event along with
special guests including former residents of the village. A new display in
the Maritime Museum chronicles life in this unique village during the1920s
and 30s and the families who lived in its picturesque cottages.

When Lord Montagu opened the Maritime Museum in 1963, it was “to
serve as a memorial to the men of Buckler’s Hard who built
men-of-war”. The museum was housed in what had been the New Inn and
displayed a collection of models, prints and documents gathered by his
father, John Montagu, some forty years earlier. These were supplemented by
loans and gifts, including some original documents belonging to Master
Builder, Henry Adams, donated by one of his descendants.

Fifty years since its opening, the Buckler’s Hard Maritime Museum
has been updated with new displays including the important role played by
the village during WWII and its involvement in the D-Day landings, while
the recreated interiors of a labourer’s and shipwright’s
cottages and the New Inn show how the village would have looked in the
early 1800s.

The Beaulieu River was believed to be a major landing point for smuggled
goods from the late 18th century with the cottage that is now the Chapel of
St Mary’s a centre of operations. A viewing window in the floor
beside the altar reveals a recently discovered cellar below, probably used
as a store for smuggled contraband. Another new display in the museum tells
this fascinating story along with artefacts recovered during excavations of
the cellar.

Also joining the 50th anniversary celebrations was Gipsy Moth IV, the
yacht in which Sir Francis Chichester became the first person to complete a
true solo circumnavigation of the earth in 1967. Trials for the voyage took
place on the Beaulieu River and after the completion of the record breaking
voyage Sir Francis returned to receive the Freedom of the River.

On the 6th and 7th April, in celebration of the 50th anniversary, KIDS
GO FREE* at Buckler’s Hard, as the village comes alive with fun
activities including Victorian games, a fun quiz trail with lots of prizes
to be won and swashbuckling pirate tales. Learn about village life from
Living History characters, hear rousing sea shanties from the strolling
Shantymen and watch traditional craft demonstrations.